1. Birthplace of European Civilization
GREECE
Birthplace of European Civilization

2. Location Greece is a peninsula on a peninsula
Greece is part of the Peloponnesus
Which is part of the Balkans

3. Peloponnesian Peninsula
The Aegean Sea separates Greece from Asia Minor
The Mediterranean Sea separates Greece from Africa and Italy

4. Early Greece People first live in Greece 55,000 years ago
First Greek civilization established around 2,000 B.C.
This Civilization was the Minoans on the island of Crete
In 1628 B.C. Minoans weakened by tidal waves and volcanic activity on Crete

5. Mycenaeans Controlled Greece from 1600 B.C. to about 1200 B.C.
Built fort-like cities on the Peloponnesus
Conquered the Minoans around 1400 B.C.
Basis for Homer’s Iliad and the movie Troy
Destroyed by warfare and earthquakes

6. Rise of the City-State Evolved from Mycenaean forts
Greeks called them a “POLIS”
The original fort from which the city was built around was called the “ACROPOLIS”
City-States
Covered small area of land
Fewer than 10,000 people in them
Built around acropolis
Had a “AGORA” or marketplace

7. Greek Culture Homer Wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey
Iliad - story of the the Trojan War
Odyssey - story of Odysseus’s 10 year journey home

8. Greek Religion De-emphasized high standards of personal morality
Looked for 3 things in Religion
Explain nature
Explain emotions (especially self-control)
Brought benefits like good luck or a good harvest

9. Greek Religion cont’d
Did not expect their religion to save them from sin
Myths - traditional stories about Gods, Goddesses, and heroes
Oracles - Place where Gods spoke through priests and priestesses
Olympic Games - Place to please the Gods through athletic contests

10. Greek Government City-states originally ruled by a King
Over time landowners/nobles known as aristocrats or “best men” gained more power
They overthrew their kings by about 700 B.C.
City-states controlled by aristocrats or nobles were known as aristocracies

11. Rise of the Hoplite
By 600 B.C. many nonaristocrats could afford weapons
These men were known as Hoplites and fought in closely packed rows
As they became more important to the defense of the city they demanded more say in government

12. Aristocrats Fall
Along with the Hoplites, poor farmers also were unhappy with the acristocracies
Tyrants - or leaders who took power illegally (agains the law), were able to bring a better life to people
Over time many Tyrants began to rule unjustly
That is why the word tyrant has come to mean someone who uses absolute power brutally

13. Democracy
After the overthrow of tyrants many city-states came up with the idea of popular government
Or that people can and should rule themselves
Some city - states like Athens developed Democracy - government in which citizens take part
Only a select few MEN were allowed to vote

14. Athens and Sparta Athens and Sparta showed great differences
Athens was known for its laws and government
Sparta was known for its physical strength and discipline of its people
Spartan laws written intentionally so that people would have to memorize them as a further test of discipline

15. Society Athens Had 3 Social Groups Sparta Had 3 Social Groups
Equals - land divided equally among these citizens and their families
Half-Citizens - no political power, but were free and served in the army
Helots - were slaves who worked the ground
Athens
Had 3 Social Groups
Citizens - were all Athenian-born men, they could be rich aristocrats or poor farmers
Metics - non-citizens born outside of Athens, could not take part in government
Slaves were at the bottom

16. Sparta vs. Athens: Government
Two Kings
One led army & other ran matters at home
Council of Elders made of 28 male “equals” over the age of 60
Assembly - all equals over age of 30
Ephors - elected by assembly to make sure kings followed the laws
Early Athens
Started out aristocratic
Only citizens who owned land held office
Archons - elected rulers who served on yr terms
In 507 BC Cleisthenes seized power and turned into a democracy

17. Spartan Military Sparta controlled lives of citizens from birth
Unhealthy babies left to die
Age 7 - boys leave home for military barracks
train specifically for war
Age 20 begin military service

18. Spartan Military cont’d
Age 20 - could marry but could not live at home
Not allowed to egage in trade or business
30 to 60 - could live with wife but still available for military service
Spartan woman received strict physical training.

19. Sparta in Review
The training by the Spartan state led to a strong gov’t and an almost unbeatable army
However they paid a price for their power
They gave up their individual liberties
They created little in art, literature, or science

20. Athenian Democracy Divided Athens into 10 Tribes
Each Tribe chose 50 men
These men formed Council of 500
Served for one year
Couldn’t be chosen more than twice
Council proposed laws to the assembly
Assembly all males citizens of voting age
Greece = Direct Democracy - all citizens participate directly in decision making
U.S. = Representative Democracy - citizens elect rep. to govern them

21. The Expansion of Greece
Greece fought a number of wars with Persia
Wars fought b/w 500 BC -479 BC
Victories in these wars led to a rivalry b/w Athens and Sparta

22. Persian Wars Greeks interfere in revolts in Asia Minor
Darius vows to punish Greeks especially Athens
Persians conquer Thrace and Macedonia
Although outnumbered Greeks (mostly Athenians but no Spartans) win resounding victory at Marathon in 492 BC

23. Persian Wars con’t Victory at Marathon causes Persians to withdraw
Uneasy truce b/w the two Civilizations last for 10 yrs
In 480 BC Xerxes (Darius’s son) leads a huge Persian navy and army against the Greeks
This time several Greek city-states (including Sparta) unite to stop the Persians

24. Thermopylae 7,200 men led by 300 Spartans holds pass at Thermopylae
Buys enough time for other city-states to assemble their armies

25. Persian Wars Conclude Persians then march on Athens and burn it
Athenians destroy Persian fleet at Salamis
In 479 BC Athenians and Spartans defeat Persian on the Plain of Platea, NW of Athens
This ended the Persian Wars

26. Results of Persian Wars
Greeks in Asia Minor now free of Persian rule
Persians still meddled in Greek affairs
Athenians rebuilt Athens and entered period of cultural achievement
Threat of invasion still persisted which drove need for Greek unity
Both Athens and Sparta wanted the leadership in this new Greek State
Athenians win through diplomacy with Delian League
Delian League - alliance of city-states with Athens as leader

27. Peloponnesian War
Although Athens was a democracy the Delian League was not
Athens made all the decisions
Greek city-states resented Athens
Some city-states like Corinth and Thebes turned to Sparta for support
Athens + Allies and Sparta + Allies become embroiled in civil war

28. Peloponnesian War Spartans had stronger army
Athenians the stronger navy
War lasted 27 yrs
Sparta with the help of their old enemy Persia defeated the Athenians
Greece was politically unstable following the war